2004 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

90 points from Robert Parker: "The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (10,582 cases) is an outstanding value in Napa Cabernet. With prices on almost every Napa Cabernet now well in excess of $50.00, a $35.00 wine that merits 90 points is big news. Deep ruby purple in color with loads of licorice, black currant, cedar, and spice, this wine has beautiful texture, medium to full body, and a heady finish. The velvety texture and opulence of the wine speak to drinking it over the next 10-15 years. Leave it to none other than Jess Jackson to take this famous winery and resurrect it to where it was in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s - a reference point for spectacular Napa Cabernet. These are the finest wines made in well over 25 years." (12/07) Freemark Abbey is back! The 2004 Cabernet shocked us all, mostly due to the fact that it tastes a lot like the great wines of the past from them: slightly rustic, Old School with plenty of charm and varietal correctness. The nose is wonderfully reminiscent of Cabs of yesteryear with aromas of warm clay, cedar, black currant, olive and graphite, all the while remaining on the more savory side of the spectrum. The one thing this has that 90% of all Cabs are lacking in these days is acid. Bright, tangy flavors are present from the onset with cassis, sandalwood, and lavender, plus a return of the currant fruit found on the nose and a slight hint of caramel.